"A memorable stay"

I was admitted to Arrowe Park Hospital on Wednesday August 8th 2018. I had been told in June 2017 that I would need an operation to repair my left kidney as it was not emptying into my bladder efficiently. The left ureter was not functioning properly and I was, at times, in a lot of pain. Despite having to wait a long time for the operation, I was extremely glad to eventually be seen.

The surgeon was absolutely brilliant. The operation went well and I have since made a remarkable recovery. This was due in no small part to the excellent post operative care I was given on Ward 20. My operation was early in the day and I was on the ward by early afternoon. For the first few hours I was still under the effect of the anaesthetic and was quite comfortable but, after a while it wore off and the pain started to come through. The main cause of the pain was as a result of my abdomen having been inflated with CO2 gas to aid the operation. Three small incisions were made in my belly through which to conduct the operation. A fourth hole had been made from which to drain the operation site. During the night I was came close to blacking out with the pain. I was given pain relief and it did work for a while but the pain came back before long.

I'm no physician and so cannot give an informed opinion but, I was left wondering why more CO2 had not been removed from my abdomen immediately after the operation. Perhaps the gas goes into the body's tissues and makes it way out over time. The trouble was I was constipated for a few days before I went in. This certainly did not help.

I think it would be helpful for future patients to be advised to avoid constipation if possible. I know overuse of laxatives can have a negative effect but, in cases where internal gas within the body is the direct cause of such pain it would help if the patient could relieve themselves effectively as and when possible. I really struggled so much so that I began to bleed from the drain site (By the way, the drain itself came out on the first night after the tube became tangled on the arm of the wheelchair used to get me to X-Ray. I wasn't sure if I was having an internal post op bleed - I wasn't - it was the gas.) I will never forget that pain.

I will also never forget the dedication and genuine care I was given by the nurses on Ward 20. They were wonderful. I cannot praise them highly enough. I'm now 64 years old and have been exceptionally fortunate with my general health and well being. This was the first time I had had major surgery. The good old NHS sorted me out. I feel blessed to have had such lovely people looking after me. Thank you so much.